Wednesday, May 28, 2014

While I was heading to work on Memorial Day, I stopped by Dunkin Donuts. I ordered a regular coffee and an old fashion donut. The young lady behind the counter said "Why you're just a traditional kind of guy aren't you?". She doesn't know the half of it. She ended with Happy Memorial Day as she gave me my change. I estimate that her age would put her as just a gleam in her daddy's eye when the Cold War ended. My guess is that she didn't even know there was such a thing as the Cold War.My service during the Cold War is what established that "traditional kind of guy" mentality. Duty, Honor, Country. These are not just flowery words written by some journalist when reporting on the military. It is our way of life. God and Family also play a part in the traditional values earned during those long tours of duty. I am sure many of you have these ingrained into your soul as I do.As I was stuffing the change in the tip jar, I spoke to all three of the ladies behind the counter and asked them to take a moment sometime today, and remember the true meaning of Memorial Day. As I said those words a vision of the Wall flashed through my brain with all the names neatly listed. 58,000 plus. I guess that will always be the legacy of my generation. A period when the Cold War turned quite Hot - Vietnam.On the balance of my drive to work I thought of the memorials in my small Pennsylvania home town and the names on those monuments in the park. I played as a child and teen with some of those men named on those memorials. If circumstances were different, my name might have been on one of them.So many gave their lives for the freedom we have today.Bravo Zulu to them all.

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Normally, I am providing links to USA oriented Cold War stories of interest.

Today I have a twist for you - an article about a Russian Cold War Museum!

It is an article about the Museum of the Cold War, Moscow, Russia.

Here is an excerpt for you:

Stand in the dark tunnel as a red light flashes overhead and an air raid siren howls.Pose for a selfie in front of a wax sculpture of Soviet leader Josef Stalin, the tyrant who helped start the Cold War by insisting that Russia dominate its Eastern European neighbors.Launch nuclear Armageddon . . .

Thursday, May 22, 2014

A few years ago I learned of the USS Scorpion's fate through a book found at the dollar store bargain bin. Not being a sub sailor I spent most of my military reading about surface battles involving Destroyers.

Scorpion Down by Ed Offley is a fascinating read that explores the reasons, both official and speculative, for the sinking.

Monday, May 5, 2014

Yes, May 5 1818 this very interesting
person entered the world and changed it forever.

This is the first in a series of post
where I will introduce and discuss the leaders of the Cold War. Both East and
West leadership in an alternating style will be presented.

Food for Thought

Did the Cold War Start with Karl Marx’s
published works?

Karl Marx laid the
ground work for his theories to take hold in Lenin’s mindset 30 plus years
later, thereby causing the revolutionary spirit to take hold in late 19th
Century Russia and become an adversarial world power in the 20th.

It was a natural occurrence
for capitalist countries, the USA and Western Europe, to clash with a society
modeled after many of Marx’s anti-capitalist theories. It took nearly half a
century later to come to a boil in the late 1940s, but it was inevitable.

Short Version Book
Review

Karl Marx His Life and
Environment by Isaiah Berlin.

I found this book an
interesting read in that it is different than most biographies which introduce
and discuss a person’s life from beginning to end. Mr. Berlin incorporates an
understanding of what was going on around Marx in Europe at that time and
discusses how it influenced Marx’s theories. His home life, relationship with associates,
political involvements, and growth as a purveyor of economic theory is
investigated and shared. The explanations occasionally get a little deep and
cause the mind to wander but a majority of the book flows well as Marx’s life
progresses.

Originally published in 1939 (my copy is from 1963), the book is a
short read at 284 pages. I am glad I discovered it at the used book thrift store
I frequent. It provides a quick look at Karl Marx, his life, and how he
influenced the world through his observations and conclusions. Link over and
obtain a copy for your own enjoyment.

Berlin, Isaiah, Karl Marx His Life and Environment, Third Edition, Oxford
University Press, New York, 1963 (no ISBN number assigned)

Lenin's biography will be next. Look for a review in April. Then, I will alternate between East and West leaders each month. Churchill was a fascinating read!

Until then, become a follower and
catch other historical and current articles on the Cold War.

I would like to offer you, the
reader, the opportunity to become a blog guest and provide an article. Tell us “Your” Cold War
Story. I am looking for interesting stories to share with our audience. Just email me your contact info.

I will also be a participant in the Veteran’s History Project once accepted.
The project is an archive of Veteran’s service. Your story, photographs, memorabilia,
etc will be preserved for posterity. If you live in Florida, served during the
Cold War (1945-1991), and wish to be interviewed, please connect with me at
proudcoldwarrior@gmail.com.

SHARE YOUR COLD WAR STORY !

Where did you serve? Military or Civilian? Stateside or Overseas. Fulda Gap? Berlin? NATO? CIA? State Department? The Dew Line? On a Missile Battery? Down in a Silo? At Sea? Under the Sea? In the Air? According to the VA over 26 million Vets are still alive. I'd bet that most served in the 1945-1991 time frame and I'd like to share your story on this blog. As long as it isn't still classified, email me with your story and I will post it here. proudcoldwarrior@gmail.com